Elmer Kelton’s heroes are “five feet eight and nervous.”
The Frontier Partisans I write about here are indisputably heroic. In the classical sense, that is. They display extraordinary physical courage and skill in overcoming great odds in battle. They don’t have to be “good guys” to be heroic — just badass.
But there is a different kind of heroism that was certainly more important in the long story of the frontiers of the world: Quieter, less violent, perhaps deeper and more profound.
Cleaning out my work van the other day, I stumbled on a slim volume of essays by the late, great writer of the West, Elmer Kelton. It’s titled “My Kind of Heroes.”
“I can’t write about heroes seven feet tall and invincible. I write about people five feet eight and nervous. To me those are the real heroes. They fight their battles a day at a time. They do the best they can think of and if that doesn’t work, they try something else.
“Most of all, they hang on and endure.”
Truth, Mr. Kelton.
Dennis Sumrak says
This morning I was reading the entry in Querencia about the benefit dance I attended in Magdalena Saturday night. Among the comments I found a link to Frontier Partisans. I am going to book mark this one.
The photo of Elmer Kelton made me a bit melancholy. Elmer was my neighbor when I lived in San Angelo. He and his wife were very gracious and always made time to visit when someone dropped by there home.
I think Elmer Kelton is missed by many, but what a grand legacy he left behind.
JimC says
Welcome! Kelton was one of the greats, no question. I’ve always admired his outlook and enjoyed his writing. My favorite of his was “The Day the Cowboys Quit.”